Shelf assembly



Ap 25, 9 0L MULLER 2,505,299

I SHELF ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 14, 946 2 She'ets-Sheet 1 36 OTTCD MULLER A ril 25, 1950 o. MULLER SHELF ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1946 oTTo MULLER Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to shelf assemblies.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved shelf or bin assembly wherein shelving of any desired height may be provided, the shelves and supports being assembled and locked together without the use of bolts, screws or like fastening elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide in an assembly of this kind a pair of upright channel supporting members, horizontal shelf members, and locking means for locking the supporting and shelf members together.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shelf assembly wherein the parts are inter-' changeable, and the spacing between shelves may be varied at the will of the user.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shelf assembly wherein any one or more of the shelves may be converted into a bin of desired depth.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shelf assembly which when completely assembled will be rigid and self-sustaining.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combinationand arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view partly broken away and in section of a shelf assembly constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2--.2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view partly broken away and in section of a modified assembly,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view in perspective of another modification of this invention,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in section of another modified form of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals H) and H designate generally a pair of opposed spaced confronting upright channel members which are of like construction and are each formed. of a relatively wide body, wall or side l2 having right angle flanges l3 and 14 extending inwardly therefrom." The flange l3 has extending right angularly-and forwardly therefrom a; narrow flange li'and flange M has extending;

tending lugs or flanges 25 are carried by each end 'rearwardly therefrom a right angular narrow flange l6. The body or wall I2 forms opposed or confronting channels or channel members with the flanges |3-|5 and l|6 and a connection therebetween. A back wall l! is disposed between the channel members It] and H and comprises an upright plate It, which is formed with rearwardly extending right angular flanges illat the opposite vertical edges thereof engageable with the forwardly extending rear flanges l5 of the channel members, so as to hold the channel members In and It against outward movement relative to each other. The channel members i0 and l have disposed therebetween a plurality of horizontally disposed shelf members, generally designated as 20. Each shelf member 20 comprises an elongated plate 2|, which is formed at its forward longitudinal edge with an upright flange 22. plate 2| is formed with a depending right angular flange 23 and the latter flange is substantially narrower than the flange 22.

The flange 22 forms a shallow bin for retaining articles on the upper surface of the plate 2| and the flange 22 at its opposite ends is adapted to abut against the inner sides of the rearwardly extending flanges IS. The plate 2| at the opposite ends thereof is formed with a depending lug or flange 24 disposed substantially centrally of the plate 2| and a pair of oppositely or upwardly exof the plate 2|. The channel members it and U have disposed in the lower end portions thereof a base forming assembly which comprises two of the shelf members 2|] disposed in vertical position T with the narrow flanges 23 lowermost and extending outwardly and the wider flanges 22 uppermost and in confronting position. Flanges 24 extend outwardly and flanges 25 extend inwardly.

A pair of vertically disposed blocks 26 are disposed against theinner faces of flanges 25 and plates 2| between the inwardly extending flanges or lugs 25 and the adjacent ends of the flanges 22,

and the blocks 26 are formed with a slot or groove 2! in their inner sides thereof, within which a I 3 vertically disposed spacer plate 28 is adapted to clearly shownin Figure l.

loosely engage.

gages within the channel members It and I! as The lowermost of the tical slots 30 in the inner side thereof is disposed The rear longitudinal edge of the The upright shelf members 20 with the blocks 26 and the intermediate plate 28 5 form a substantially box-shaped base which en-- against the inner side of the vertical flange 22. A pair of transverse shelf locking members or strips 3-! longer than the width of the shelf 23 or extending beyond the edges thereof are disposed one at each end of the horizontal shelf 2%, the locking member 3! engaging between the outer end of the flange 22 and the inner sides of the upright end flanges 25 and the opposite ends of the locking members 3| engage between the flanges l5 and E 6 and the web or plate E2 of the channel members Ill and H and into the opposed channels formed by plates or sides l2 with flanges |3 l5 and I l-l6. When the locking member's 3| are in position the channel members l and M will be locked against outward or inward movement relative to each other.

In order to provide a means whereby the superposed shelf members may be held in vertically spaced apart relation, I have provided a pluralityof vertical partition members 32 which are in the fo'r in 'of a plate and are adapted at their lower ends to engage on the upper's'ide of the plate 21. The forward edge of the partition 32 is engageable in aselected one of theslots 3B- of the'partitio'n bar 29-", and the upper end of the partition 32 bears against the lower side of the next or adjacent shelf member. The partition 32 at its upper rear corner is held against lateral movementby means" of an elongated strip 33 which engages against the lower side of the plate 2| and bears against the rear flange 23. The strip 33 is formed with a plurality of notches 3t and the upper rear corner of the partition 32 is cut out, as indicatedat 35, so that the partition 32 ma'y'snugly enga'g'e'in a selected notch and the lower edge of the strip 33 may seat on the shoulder 35' formed by the right angle cutout 35.

Referring now toFigure 3 there is disclosed a modified shelf assembly wherein a low bin is provided and in this instance the upright channel members Ella and Ma are relatively short and the rear wall flat is also short terminating at its upper end flush with the upper ends of the channel members liidand' Ha. A pair of lower blocks 3"? are dispesed in the lower portions of the channel members 1 5a and Ha and a shelf Inember Z Bd engages on the upper edges of the blocks 3? but is showhreversedwith the upstanding flange sea at the rear and disposed against rear wall lla and its dependingflange sea at the front. The channel members ltd and [la shown in Figure 3 are locked togetherby lock members 35a and the forward elongated strip 29a which normally engages against the forwardup-turned flange 22 of the shelf or bottom forming member 20 when vertical partition and shelf supporting members 32 are used, is omitted in connection with shelf or bottom forming member 20a. The channel members Illa and Na have disposed therein inner end wall members 38 which are provided at their upper edges with outwardly extending flanges 39 and at their vertical edges with vertical outwardly extending flanges 4a. The lower end or the inner nd wail 3's fii'iied With a lower outwardly extendin flange 4! enga ing on the'upper side if a locking member 31d and at its outer edge with upstanding flanges or h1g5 25. This assembly may consist of one, two, or more shelves 20a with channel members of a height to suit.

Referring to Figure 4', a front wall forming plate 43 is interposed between the strip 290 and the inner side of' the vertical flange 220, so as to provide for increased depth of-the-bin at the forward side thereof. The plate 63' may be (if any desired height and preferably the plate 43 is of a length to snugly engage between the inner faces of the end walls 38 in Figure 3. A price tag supporting clip 44', which is formed with a supporting hook or flange 45 engageable over the upper edge of the plate 43, is disposed on the forward edges of the shelves on the top side of the bin extension plate 43 so that the desired price tags may be positioned at any desired or selected point along the length of the plate 43'. The clip 46 may be either a short clip or extefi'dfor the length of the bin.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is disclosed another-modification of this invention wherein the upright channel members IOb are formed at the opposite vertical edges thereof with right angular flanges Mb and inner edges of the flanges l lb have extending right angularly therefrom flanges ltb. The flanges lGb have extending right angularly and outwardly therefrom flanges 46 as in Figures 3 and 4,. which confront the web (21) of'the" channel member. Ashelf member 2%, similar in detail to the'shelf member 2a, is en--' ga'geableat the opposite ends thereof inthe' chan nel member [6b, being formed with upwardly eX-' tending flanges or lugs 25?) and a; shelf locking strip 3") is disposed between the upright flanges bib and bears at its outer edge against the flanges 25b. The inner lengthwise edge of the locking member 3th is provided with, a notch 41 within which the flange E6 is adapted to engage. The partition supporting strip'29b'isadapted to'engage on the'u per surface'of the shelf 2% and. is of a lefigthto fit between the'inne'r edges of the locking' strips 3lb.- In'other'respectstlie construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3'will be used with the construction shown in Figure 5'.

With a shelfassembly as herein disclosed any desired number of shelves may be mounted between the channel members which form the vertical supports and when th'e' shelf members are locked in position with' the partitions between superposed shelf members the assembly will be rigid. If desired the shelf members Z'U'may'be inverted st? as to position the narrow flange foremost and the long" vvid'e flange 22 rear'most. Where this is done he depending flange or lug 24 will extend upwardly and the flanges 25 Will eX- tend downwardly. I

if desired the sl'ielf members'zo'may be inserted so as to position the narrow flange foremost and in a downward position asse'en' in Figure 3 instead of an upward position, asfifdicated' on the drawing in the other figures. V This method of assembling t re shelf embers will provide a flat shelving without either the high or low flange extending above the front of the shelf. In this assembly no spacer barsor'partitions are used; the shelving being supported and spaced vertical- 157' by shelf end spacers at each'end of the shelves, similar to the construction shown in Figure 3.

The sp'ace'r bars 29" and33- may be made the full length of the shelves. Incas'e the shelving is permanently assembled, this isdone by first setting thepartition's with their lower forward ends engaged in the bar 29 and their sliding bar 33 in'tofpl'ace. however, if is desired to adopt the feature of changing the location of the partitions in certain, shelving after it has been assembled, then the front bar .29 is made of a length that will fit between the poking bars 3i as shown on the rawings" in Fig ires 1 and '5. This will permit bar 29 to be raised and moved forward perihittihg the removal of the partitions and The exact configuration illustrated is regarded as the optimum, but some of the desirable results inherent in this disclosure may be obtained by various slight modifications including some departure from the-exact configuration shown, and it is therefore requested that the scope of the invention should be regarded as limited only by the terms of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A shelf assembly comprising a pair of upright channel members disposed with the channels in confronting relation, vertical inturned retaining flanges on the opposite edges of said channel members, superposed shelf members between said channel members and having the ends thereof extending into the channels, vertical partitions disposed between pairs of shelf members supporting an upper shelf from a succeeding shelf, an upstanding flange at each end of a shelf, and a locking member longer than the width of said shelf engaging said retaining flanges and said upstanding flanges on the shelf for locking said shelf members and said channel memberstogether.

2. A shelf assembly comprising opposed connected upright channel members disposed with the channels in confronting relation, vertical inturned flanges .on the oppositeedges of said channel members and disposed between opposed channel members, superposed shelf members between said channel members and having the ends:

thereof extending between opposed flanges into said channels and having upstanding lugs spaced from the inturned flanges, vertical members disposed between pairs of shelf members supporting.

an upper shelf member from a lower shelf memher, and transverse locking members spanning said inturned flanges at the outside thereof and extending between the upstanding lugs and inturned flanges extending beyond the longitudinal edges of said shelf members at each end thereof engaging within the outer sides of said channel members between said inturned flanges and lugs for locking the shelf members to said channel members and said channel members together against outward or inward movement relatively.

3. A shelf assembly comprising a pair of upright channel members disposed with the channels in confronting relation, vertical inturned flanges on the opposite edges of said channel members, superposed shelf members between said channel members and having the ends thereof extending into said channels and provided with end lugs extending upwardly and downwardly outwardly of the inturned flanges, vertical members disposed between pairs of shelf members supporting anupper shelf from a lower shelf, certain of said lugs engaging certain of said vertical members and transverse locking members carried by the end portions of said shelf members extending beyond the longitudinal edges of said shelf members at each end thereof between other of the lugs at the ends of the shelves and engaging said inturned flanges for locking said channel members together.

4. A shelf assembly comprising opposed spaced upright channel members disposed with the channels in confronting relation, vertical inturned retaining flanges on the opposite edges of said channel members, superposed shelf members between said channel members and having the ends thereof engaging said flanges and extending outwardly beyond the same into the channels, flanges at the ends of the shelf members, a locking member longer than the width of said shelf disposed between-the flanges of the channel members and shelf members and in interlocking engagement with the flanges of the channel members, and means at the ends of the shelves for supporting the shelves in spaced relation, said means being disposed within the channels between the shelves and engaged with the inturned flanges of the channel members.

5. A shelf assembly comprising pairs of connected channel members having inturned inner flanges and disposed with their channels in confronting relation, superposed shelf members between said channel members and having the ends thereof extending within the channels between the flanges, oppositely bent flanges at the ends of the shelf members, horizontal transverse end members at the ends of the shelf members in interfltting engagement with the flanges of the shelves and upright channel members, vertical members disposed at the ends of the shelf members and supporting an upper shelf from a succeeding shelf and means for locking said shelf members and said channel members together.

6. A shelf assembly comprising spaced pairs of upright channel members having inwardly directed flanges with their inner edges directed inwardly into the channels and disposed with the channels in confronting relation, superposed horizontal and vertical shelf members between said channel members and having the ends thereof extending between the flanges into the channels and having end lugs, vertical transverse end members at the ends of the shelf members and supporting the latter in spaced relation, horizontal locking strips longer than the width of the shelf members cooperating between the lugs of the shelf members and flanges of the channel members for locking said channel and shelf members against relative inward and outward movement and means for locking said locking strips and said channel members together at said flanges.

7. A shelf assembly comprising spaced opposed upright channel members having inwardly directed right angular flanges with their inner edges directed inwardly at right angles and disposed with the channels in confronting relation,

superposed shelf members between said channel members and having the ends thereof extending into the channels and their ends bent and free of direct connection to said channel members, horizontal transverse end members at the ends of the shelf members and longer than the width of the shelf members in interlocking engagement with and between the bent ends of the shelf members and flanges of the upright channel members to lock said shelf and channel members together,

and vertical members at the ends of and between the shelf members and supporting an upper shelf from a succeeding shelf, said horizontal transverse end members preventing separation of the channel members, shelf members and vertical members relative to each other.

8. A shelf assembly comprising opposed spaced upright channel members having inwardly directed right angular flanges with their inner edges directed inwardly and outwardly into the channels and disposed with the channels in confronting relation, superposed shelf members between said channel members and having the ends thereof extending into the channels and provided with end flanges and upturned and downturned flanges at their opposite longitudinal edges, horizontal transverse end members at the ends of the shelf members and longer than the madness width of the shelf members in-i'interloeking en gagement with ahdibe'tween the endflangesk-cfv the shelf members-andkupright'channelmembers, saidhorizontal transverse end members having notches receiving:the-flanges ofthe channel mem'" bers therein at'their inner edges withinthechannels, vertical members between the' shelf members, and longitudinal front andrear strip's along. the longitudinal flanges. of the" shelf members havingverticalspaced slots receivingathetvertical edges of the verticarmembers therein.

'9. A shelf assembly comprising; a pair 'of-upright channel members disposed with their 7 channels in confronting relationand having vertical inturned retaining? flanges, superposed shelf-- members between said channel members andhavingthe ends thereof extending into thechannels, an upstandingxflange at'the-end of each shelf and a locking member'at the: end of each shelf extending transversely within the channels, said locking membersbeinglonger than the width of the shelf and engaging, within the chan-* nels of the channel members and having their ends iniinterlockihg; engagement Withthe flanges of the channel members;

10. A shelf assembly comprising a pair of upright channel members, a pair of confronting, vertical right angular flanges carried byeachmember, said channel members being disposed with their open sides toward each other, "a back plate disposed ina vertical plane between and against theinn'er edges of saidflangesan'dihav ing an outwardly directed right angular flange ateach vertical edge thereof engaging the inner sides of said pairsof flanges whereby said back plate will hold said members againstlateral outward movement, a base disposed between the lower ends of said channel members, alower shelf engaging on said base, a second shelf above the lower shelf, sa'idshelves having end flanges, means including transverse strips longer'than the width of the shelves extending between the'vertical flanges of the channel members and end flangs of the shelves for cooperating between-the shelves and flanges of the channel-members for supporting the shelves one above the other, and means locking the ends of the shelves and the flanges of the channel members together.

11. A shelf assembly comprising. a pair of upright channel members each having a-Jpair of confronting vertical flanges and disposed. withtheir channels toward each other, aback plate having outturned flanges at the verticalends thereof directed outwardlyat the flanges of. the; channel members and engaging the: inner: sides- 5 of said flanges whereby said'ba'ckiplate:willhold:

said'membersagains't lateral outward movement a: base disposed betweenthelowen endsof said members, alower shelf engaging onsaid base, a second shelf above-said lower shelf, said shelves having upturned end 'flanges, meansin'the channelsbetween said shelves for supporting said second shelf abo'vesaid lower shelf and-means including cooperating strips on the shelves and engaging within the flanges'of' the channels beyond the longitudinal edges of the'. shelves and r with said-upturned end-flanges for locking said shelves and channel members together.

12. A shelf assembly comprising opposed spaced upright channel members disposed With the channels in confronting relation, vertical inturned retaining flanges on the'op'posite edges" of said channel members, superposed shelf members between said channelmembers and having the ends thereof extending between saidflanges into the channels, an upstanding flange at each end of saidshelfmembers, and locking members longer thanthe'width of said'shelf members engaging bet'we'en-said retaining flanges and said upstanding flanges 'of the shelf members for looking said shelf members and channel members together.

shelf assembly comprising opposed 1 3. A spaced upright channel members disposed with the channels in confronting relation, vertical opposed inturned retainingflangeson the'opposite edges of said cl'iann'elv members, superposed OTTO REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,164,439 Windquist Dec. 14, 1915 1,165,703 OConnor Dec. 28, 1915 1,178,612 Weiss Apr. 11, 1916 1,375,855 OConnor Apr. 26, 1921 

